State budget cuts slash into summer fun

By David Riley, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY NEWS

Sunday

Jun 26, 2011 at 12:01 AMJun 26, 2011 at 1:09 AM

Budget cuts have forced many state and local parks and recreation programs to scale back or find creative ways to maintain services, even as advocates say more cash-strapped families are seeking cheap ways to enjoy the outdoors this summer.

Budget cuts have forced many state and local parks and recreation programs to scale back or find creative ways to maintain services, even as advocates say more cash-strapped families are seeking cheap ways to enjoy the outdoors this summer.

Since 2009, Massachusetts has closed at least seven state parks, including Ashland State Park, and swimming areas, which may face further cuts in next fiscal year's budget.

"We definitely miss not having the state park open," Ashland Recreation Director Kelly Rund said. "It is really a big setback for us."

Facing financial pressures of their own, towns and cities have often trimmed parks and recreation funding, turning to everything from fees to fundraising to restructuring departments to keep programs afloat.

Wayland and Sudbury, for example, are approaching their second year sharing a parks and recreation director. Several towns have consolidated parks departments with public works. Arlington voters this month approved a $6.5 million override to maintain town services, which will in part stave off cuts in park maintenance and higher field-use fees.

"We're having to charge people to use our services now," said Nancy McShea, parks and recreation director for Wayland and Sudbury and president of the Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association. "For many communities, that's the only way (parks and recreation programs) survive."

The Holliston Recreation Department increased the price of Lake Winthrop beach stickers this year for residents and non-residents to help pay for more lifeguard coverage there on the weekends. Resident stickers now cost $40, up from $30. And non-residents will have to pay $80.

"Last year was really tough because we could not have lifeguards on the weekends," Assistant Recreation Director Kristen Hedrick said. "Most of our programs have stayed the same price because we are trying to be conscious of parents."

While neither the Milford nor Hopkinton Parks Departments have needed to make any drastic cuts or changes in the last few years, both chose to close local swimming areas an hour early last year as a cost-saving measure.

The timing for budget cuts and higher fees is poor, say environmental groups calling on the state to better fund the Department of Conservation and Recreation. In an economic downturn, more residents are looking for places to spend the summer closer to home, including state and local parks, they said.

"This is where people go to spend their family vacations," said James Bryan McCaffrey, director of the Sierra Club's state chapter. "This is also what brings tourism into Massachusetts."

Massachusetts is not alone. A 2010 survey by the National Recreation and Park Association found more than half of its members faced budget cuts last year, and nearly as many had been asked to find ways to bring in new revenue.

Almost 60 percent had cut part-time staff, and more than half expected more reductions this year, the survey found.

Franklin's Recreation Department lost one full-time staff position at its office, which equaled a $27,000 loss to its budget. While the cut does not affect programs, Director Ryan Jette said people will need patience because phone calls may not be returned as quickly.

"We are not making any drastic changes," Jette said. "We will continue to do our best in a tough economy."

The state has cut Department of Conservation and Recreation funding nearly 30 percent in the last two years, from $102 million to about $72 million, according to agency spokeswoman S.J. Port. That has meant cutting roughly 250 full-time positions, she said, while also trimming seasonal jobs.

Jennifer Ryan, legislative director for Mass Audubon, said the state parks' portion of the department's budget has dropped from $55.8 million in fiscal 2008 to $42.2 million this year. Parks and environmental spending was about 1 percent of the state budget a decade ago but is only 0.58 percent today, she said.

Among the agency's closures are Ashland State Park, Berry Pond in Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover and Fearings Pond in Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth.

Budget proposals from the governor and Senate would fund state parks at about $42.2 million next fiscal year, Ryan said. The House has proposed $41.6 million, which could mean more state parks closing, a shorter season for camping and swimming, and fewer park rangers and interpreters, she said.

"There's an equity issue here," Ryan said. "I think it's a quality of life issue for residents of Massachusetts."

Municipal leaders described a patchwork of approaches to parks at the local level.

John Whalen, executive director of the Mass. Recreation and Parks Association, said most of his members are working with either level funding or cuts, and many increasingly rely on fees to fund services.

Their programs remain important, they say, offering residents affordable recreation, protecting the environment and open space, and adding economic value to a town or city.

"We're just as essential as some of the other services in the community," Whalen said.

In Wayland, McShea said her department offers few free recreation programs anymore.

"Every salary that we pay, everything that we do, we have to raise that money through fees, whether that's a participant fee, a field use fee, a beach tag fee," McShea said.

Franklin's Jette said the number of applications for scholarships from the department has doubled since 2009, a sign of the tough economy.

"We never turn anyone away," Jette said.

Because of success its found with its programs, the Natick Recreation and Parks Department will actually be able to give seasonal employees a raise for the first time in two years - 2 percent pay increase. Superintendent Richard Cugini said that as town budgets shrank over the last five years, his department worked to freeze all its fees but hasn't increased them.

"What we have been seeing is parents signing up their kids for multiple programs during the summer," said Cugini, a possible testament to families staying closer to home during the summer.

Natick's biggest summer program, the Woodtrail camp, has seen a 20 percent increase in the last couple of years.

(Staff writer Joe O'Connell contributed to this story. David Riley can be reached at 508-626-3919 or driley@wickedlocal.com.)

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